100 Scottsdale residents will work on city plan at sessions

Almost a year after Scottsdale voters shot down the city’s General Plan, 100 people from across the community will gather Wednesday in the first of three Town Hall sessions to draft a vision for the new plan.

Last year, the City Council signed off on a contract with the non-profit Arizona Town Hall to host half-day sessions Wednesday, Thursday and Monday.

Out of 300 applicants, the organization chose 100 participants to create the plan’s vision statement, which is similar to a company’s mission statement, outlining a broad view of what the city should look like.

Observers are allowed, but space is limited. The city is asking people to register with Arizona Town Hall ahead of time with the days and times they will be observing, said Mary Vandevord, senior city planner in long-range planning services.

According to the city, about 20 percent of the 100 participants are retired, and nearly 60 percent are between ages 41 to 65.

They are equally divided from north, central and south Scottsdale.

Tara Jackson, Arizona Town Hall president, said the organization focused on making sure a range of people were selected, with a focus on “geographical balance.”

The state-mandated plan, which outlines Scottsdale’s long-term development goals, was narrowly defeated at the polls in March.

The Legislature extended the deadline for cities to update their plans to July 1, 2015.

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